During the political season of republican primaries and caucuses,
what is becoming a
factor in the race for the presidency of the United States, has been the price of
gasoline. Republicans have made it a unified scripted political statement that the
current energy policies of this country are the primary reason for the rise in
gas prices at the pump. As tax breaks are hurting exploration and the continued
closed status of federal lands for drilling increases our dependence for foreign
oil. So what is the truth or political posturing that comes forth from mouths Romney,
Gingrich and Santorum?

What they don't tell you that the oil companies base the price
of a barrel of oil on the spot market price, yet most of their oil purchases are long term
contracts with price below the spot market. Thus are far less to be rattled by spikes created by political
unrest and temporary shortages, yet all companies take advantage of turmoil to
increase profits. Here in the United States we import less oil than the years
under Bush (Chart A below), but the biggest factor affecting the price of
gas is that we export 100s of thousands of barrels a day just to Mexico alone
not to mention the rest of the world (Chart B below). Total oil exports
by the United States of petroleum products to the world is just under 3,000,000
barrels per day in 2012 (Chart C below).

The Oil Companies have reduced
refining capacity to near 83% when in the nineties they averaged above 90%. This
a common tactic used on the west coast to boost prices by squeezing supplies to
the pump through decreased refining capacity. With crude oil stocks in the US
rising and gasoline demand down from the year before (Chart D below), the
supply and demand equation is not applying here. We see that excess supplies
that could be used to lower prices here is sold the highest bidder overseas,
thus pump prices remain high here in the states. What does this say about oil
companies and new supplies, in a world market? New production here would
generate a revenue stream of profits from overseas while the US consumer would
see gasoline that could be used to lower pump prices sent where the best price
could be fetched. This is a fact. The only speculation republicans can state, is
that their war mongering talk involving Iran has added to your misery at the pump as future
prices are exploited with the threat of bombing and the blocking of the straits. Just know this, if Israel does
attack, few Americans will be able to afford to drive. The fear of a weapon being
developed that has no delivery system and would be the size of a small car as a
prototype will not be used to destabilize the middle east. Where escalations
which Israel will have no control over could involve Russia and China. A war far
worse than the one they are trying to prevent with a preemptive strike.

It is a fact that crude inventories and
gasoline supplies are up.

It is a fact that US exports 100s of
thousands of barrels of refined gasoline a day to the world.

It is a fact that speculation due to tensions
in Iran and greed is driving up spot oil prices.

It is a fact we import less oil than in the
Bush years.

It is a fact that Americans are using less
gasoline due to the recession and prices.

It is a fact refining capacity has been cut
to tighten supplies and maintain prices.

These are the facts affecting the gasoline
markets in the United States, not a policy of a lack of more drilling.

What oil companies are doing is capping finds
until the price is right. This is a fact.

Removing excess gasoline from the American
markets and selling overseas to the highest bidder. This is a fact.

Now which of facts the above is an Obama
policy?

The same old gasoline facts don't
lie in an election year, but some politicians do.

It is time for the truth.

Question for the Republicans: Just
where is all that Halliburton oil money from Iraq, you promised would pay for
the war (50 billion+/year)?

Change is needed in
the Oil Industry, but promoting a long term plan to provide a short term
solution is not common sense. Republicans seem to be short on that trait. What
we need is a leader that will reign in the corruption and speculation on the oil
futures markets through regulations that controls future contracts for what they
were meant to do. Lock in a commodity price for a period of time to protect
against market swings, not a source of trading revenues for financial firms at
the expense of the American consumer. Since all three of you candidates read
from the same prepared script, I see little leadership here. Nor will they choose
to bite the hand that feeds them. So I will leave to Obama to accomplish this,
since presently there is no one better to accomplish this despite the
recommended baggage of appointees as a compromise to established democrats.

An immediate
lowering of the price of gasoline will take place if regulation of futures
contracts is considered seriously, thus helping all in America. Do we as nation,
have the conviction to come together behind this cause or will it be Republicans
vs. Democrats and the American voter loses again to the most profitable
corporations in the world. When you choose a leader for the free world in
November, remember where all stood and did they work for your best interest,
instead of the media hype and advertizing pounding television screen. Votes are
earned by actions, not paid opinions delivered in mass through the media as
promises built of distortions of what was once the truth. This time to choose
what is best for America, instead being told what you want.